Need advice about the H1N1 Vaccine

percussiondad · 09-17-2009, 10:28 PM

Sorry to start a new thread for this but I am very concerned since my D is being told she has no choice but get the vaccine (she attends a US College) but no one can tell me if a person with severe serum sickness to penicillin is at risk. I have checked the CDC website, the WHO site and our Canadian Health web site. They give no indication as whether a person with medicine allergies should not take it. My D's reaction to penicillin can range from hives to inability to breathe. I am very concerned since there appears to have been very little testing being done prior to giving it out. If anyone has any information in this respect I would appreciate hearing it. Thanks

nysmile · 09-17-2009, 10:32 PM

Allergy to penicillin does not correlate with a risk with any flu vaccine. Husband gets the flu vaccines every year and is allergic to penicillin. He has never had a problem. Allergy to eggs is another story. From what I've been told, if one has tested positive for an allergy to eggs, then they should not get any flu vaccine.

It's definitely best to call and speak with her doctor directly before making any decision.

cartera45 · 09-17-2009, 10:46 PM

Has she had a flu shot in the past? If so, I can't imagine this would be different - the shots are very similar.

percussiondad · 09-17-2009, 11:20 PM

Yes she has had the normal flu shots in the past. I know D and her friends are all nervous about getting it and I think part of it for my D is also being away from home in case there is a reaction. That is probably where part of my fear is as well. NYSMILE, thanks for the info, it is just so hard to get a semi straight answer. All the reports are either very in favor or are adamant against the vaccine. I have not been able to find an informative one that isn't very one sided. Thanks Again

mamabear1234 · 09-17-2009, 11:28 PM

I hadn't heard that colleges were making the vaccine mandatory. That would bother me too.

nysmile · 09-17-2009, 11:29 PM

If she's OK with the regular flu shot, she should be fine with the H1N1 vaccine.

To give yourself some peace of mind, give a quick call to her physician and get his/her recommendation.

cartera45 · 09-18-2009, 12:15 AM

There is no reason to think that the side effects from the swine flu vaccine will be any different from side effects from the seasonal flu shot.

I spoke to my D's doctor about it and she recommended it. Checking with the doctor is always the best advice.

teriwtt · 09-18-2009, 12:51 AM

D2 just got her first-ever regular flu shot this week, and she's leaving for London tomorrow. I, too, was afraid of how she might react, as she has some of the usual pharmacologic allergies, such as penicillin, sulfa (and cats, mold, etc). She did fine, and I'm soooooo glad she got it - one less flu for me to worry about her getting across the pond. It also reassured me that I really shouldn't worry about how she reacts to vaccines, if the H1N1 is offered to students over there. I think she'll be fine, and I hope someone over there talks her into getting it (it was our long-time family physician who talked her into the one this week), since she was more close-minded when I suggested it.

I've, too, always heard it's more a concern if someone has egg allergies.

lastminutemom196 · 09-18-2009, 07:41 AM

There isn't going to be enough for everyone to have one (at least not anytime soon) so if you are really nervous, she should just take her time getting one. Many doctors, hospitals and pharmacies are already out of the seasonal flu vaccine here.

Making vaccines mandatory isn't something done lightly in the US -- so I wonder if they are misunderstanding strongly recommended with mandatory.

milkandsugar · 09-18-2009, 07:45 AM

Not to upset the apple cart, but there are always inherent risks to any vaccine shots. I am a RN and many of my colleagues are leary of getting any vaccines that are new. We have as of this season been mandated to receive the flu vaccine, we are waiting on word about the H1N1 vaccine.

If you are really concerned about the shot, please speak with your child's MD, however if you feel strongly against having the vaccine after your careful consideration, it is certainly within your right to refuse the shot, you will need a MD's note to that affect.
And that should be sufficient.

percussiondad · 09-18-2009, 08:37 AM

Lastminutemom196 I agree that my D and friends are possibly misunderstanding what the college is saying. I have asked her to send me a copy of the email and I have also contacted the school directly to find out what is being said.

intparent · 09-18-2009, 10:13 AM

Unless a college student is pregnant or has some high risk underlying condition, they are not on the list of recommended groups to get the H1N1 vaccine this year. Odds are very high that your D misunderstood what the college is suggesting, as there is not enough vaccine to vaccinate everyone anyway. My D's doctor has recommended against her getting the H1N1 vaccine due to a family history issue with the 1976 swine flu vaccines. I am confident that her college will not force her to have the vaccine even if they actually had it available for her.

However, as other posters have pointed out, there is no indication that a penicillen allergy would cause any issue. I just got over H1N1, and I would tell my kids to get the vaccine if it were offered and they did not have this family history issue. The H1N1 bug was quite unpleasant.

eucalyptus2 · 09-18-2009, 10:19 AM

Percussiondad - First, I never heard of MANDATORY H1N1 shot, never! My D. is also in an American University. Is this a rule that applied to ALL students or just the ones with student visa from another country? That would be my first question.

BCEagle91 · 09-18-2009, 10:40 AM

It appears that my daughter got it about a week ago (just after college started) and I got it a few days later and our son got it two days ago. Our daughter had a mild fever but it slowed her down quite a bit and has a lingering mild cough. I didn't have the fever but have the cough. Our son didn't get the fever but has the cough. I've read that the contagious time is during the fever. From what I can tell, it's everywhere.

There was a guy in the office near me that has been coughing for the whole summer. He seems to have the thing in his lungs and doesn't seem to be able to get rid of it.

Mansfield · 09-18-2009, 10:45 AM

Just a little advice....DS campus has been hit hard with H1N1. He's been feeling lousy all week with all the symptoms. I had to drive 6 hours round trip to pick him up. Good thing I did. Turns out he doesn't have H1N1. He's got pneumonia